Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s fiancé Ken Urker found dead at age 33, she suspects overdose, ‘I’ve screamed until my throat burns’

Ken Urker, the fiancé of convicted murderer Gypsy Rose Blanchard, was found dead yesterday at age 33. The circumstances of his death are unknown, though Blanchard has told journalists she believed he died of an overdose.

Speaking to PEOPLE, Blanchard confirmed that Urker had died in his bed in Raceland, Louisiana and said “I don’t know if it was intentional or not. He was not in a good state of mind lately.” She added, “I’m in disbelief. I can’t think. I’ve screamed until my throat burns.”

The report confirms that the LaFourche Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from a Raceland residence at approximately 6.15 pm local time, where they attended and found Urker, who was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation is underway, though it’s unclear if there’s any suspicion of criminal activity.

“He was not in a good state of mind lately”

Blanchard gave a statement praising Urker to PEOPLE, saying, “Ken was an amazing father and a man who was deeply loved. He will forever be my soulmate and my red string, a connection that time, distance, and even death can never erase.” But she was also clear about the “cruelty” Urker had experienced:

“Ken endured an unimaginable level of public scrutiny and relentless cyberbullying across social media platforms, including TikTok and Reddit. The cruelty directed toward him was something no human being should have to endure. I believe the tremendous weight of that scrutiny and harassment had a profound impact on him, and I hope his passing serves as a reminder that there is a real person behind every screen, every headline, and every comment.”

Urker and Blanchard’s relationship began while she was serving her sentence for the second-degree murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. Urker proposed in October 2018, though that engagement was called off. They reconnected in August 2019, though soon split again. Blanchard would go on to marry another man, though that relationship ended four months after she was released from prison in December 2023.

Blanchard and Urker finally got engaged again in April 2024 and had a daughter together, Aurora Rainer Urker. Blanchard told PEOPLE he was devoted to her: “Above all, Ken loved our daughter, Aurora. She is a beautiful reflection of his enduring spirit, and through her, a part of him will always remain with us,” she tells PEOPLE. “I will make sure she grows up knowing how deeply her father loved her and who he was beyond what strangers on the internet chose to say about him.”

Blanchard has requested privacy while she grieves, adding: “There are no words that can express the depth of this loss. I ask for privacy and compassion for our daughter, our families, and everyone grieving Ken during this incredibly painful time. He will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.”